"Oh no! No..no..no. Did Helen just say greyhound? That monster wouldn't be in search of me, right? I hate him!!! I do. He turned me into something miserable and made my friend suffer. Oh my goodness!", Accalia soliloquized to herself silently.
She held her face and looked at the mirror on the bathroom wall. She looked beautiful. The eyebags that felt permanent on her face were completely gone and the flesh on her face was full and soft.
Her brows had grown fuller and the arc on which they were shaped brought her emerald eyes to view. Accalia's nose was narrowed beautifully and her once-hollow cheekbones were full with flesh making her jawline, something of goddess form.
Earlier,on her way to Rachel's place,she met some young girls by the road whispering to themselves who giggled before approaching her complimenting her beauty.
"Miss Accalia, right?",the shorter girl asked while the others nodded. Of the three girls,she must have been the boldest.
"Yes, dear. Is there anything I can help you girls with?", Accalia asked.
"Uh..not really. You're just really pretty and we envy you a bit",the girl answered.
"Oh my! Thanks a lot lovelies. Y'all look prettier if you ask me", Accalia said modestly.
"No.. you're absolutely beautiful. Your mass of hair is lovely and you have beautiful green eyes",one of the other girls spoke up for the first time.
"And you smell so good,we caught your scent some meters away",the last girl spoke too. She had freckles on her face and had a lisp when she spoke. Accalia understood why she spoke shyly.
"You did? Huh? Anyways,I make my fragrance and perfumes myself. All the fragrances,spices,oils and lotions,I can make them", Accalia replied calmly.
"Do you think.. you can...never mind",the freckled-face girl tried to say.
Accalia wanted to ask her what she needed but she shook her head shyly and stepped back. The bold girl spoke again for the last time. "Thank you so much Miss Accalia",and they walked off.
The freckled-face girl gave a last look before walking off too with the others. Accalia shrugged and continued on her way to Rachel's house. The knock on the door shook Accalia out of her thoughts.
With the emergence of the greyhound, everything might spill on her face. Her chances of living freely were threatened and she didn't want that.
"Hey Accalia, everything okay in there?", Rachel called from outside the door.
"Yes..yes. Just give me a minute", Accalia answered. She heard Rachel's receding footsteps and sighed in relief.
Accalia rose from the ground,where she sat and dusted herself. She peered at the mirror again,washed her face and arranged her way before opening the door. Accalia met Helen with a cookie in her mouth and her glass of wine was still full. Her guess was that Helen had refilled it.
Rachel was holding a bunch of folded fabrics. She Placed them on the table before Helen and they began sorting them out.
"You took a while in there, you good?", Helen asked Accalia.
"Not sure. Maybe it's what I ate. Now we probably know I should avoid the pies from the square", Accalia lied trying to sound convinced.
"Oops sorry. I don't eat oats too. Cause it upsets me", Rachel said with a shrug. "But Gabriel lives it and I still make it for me",she ended.
"So Accalia,which fabric are you going for?"Helen asked and clapped her hands in anticipation.
"Huh?", Accalia asked, lost in thoughts.
"Outfits for the Alpha's coronation, barely three weeks away. And tell us how the plans for your housewarming are this weekend",Helen mouthed.
"Oh! That?"Accalia replied, unable to come up with an answer.
She had just heard Helen mention that they had spotted a greyhound,who probably was sent by that monster to search for her and here she was, planning on throwing a party, that'll definitely get the attention of everyone. She wouldn't risk that.
"About that. I was thinking that,I'm not interested in throwing that housewarming party anymore", Accalia said, lowering her eyes down.
"What? Why?", Rachel asked with shock.
"You do know that we celebrate a new addition to the pack right?", Rachel questioned.
"I do. But think about it. All I just want is to fit in perfectly and not bother myself with how good the party is. I want to know about people quietly and not put up a party to entice anyone", Accalia explained.
Helen was not having it,she countered. "We'll be with you every step of the way, Accalia. Besides,how would you meet the entire pack,if they don't all come to your party",she said.
"Erm.. Helen. I think I understand what's going on here. Some of us are not party animals", Rachel interceded looking at Accalia who nodded in support.
"Exactly! And we all know the Coronation is going to be the biggest thing on people's minds right now. So I wouldn't want to distract everyone from this once in a lifetime ceremony", Accalia said, smiling.
Helen wasn't all convinced but she gave in. "Okay okay..I get you. Well then we'll just focus on the coronation now, right?", Helen said in agreement finally.
Accalia jumped in excitement and hugged Helen tightly. "Yes! Look,I know how you love planning parties,so please I'll love you to focus on the coronation and let me see the stuff you're made of", Accalia announced, raising her glass for a toast.
"Is that a challenge,I smell?", Helen asked.
Rachel laughed hard at the both ladies before joining to raise her glass up. "To new beginnings and love", Rachel said.
"Yes!! And a chance to find love again. Cheers!" Helen added.
Accalia smiled and remembered Ethan. He was perfect for her. Handsome, smart,kind and maybe a romantic. Only,that he didn't think she existed even with how their paths crossed. She hoped that she would tell the ladies about him,but she retreated because she feared he may reject her and make a mockery of her.
Or maybe,he had someone. Accalia looked at the ladies and decided that she may ask about him someday. Taking the words out of her mouth, incidentally, Helen spoke.
"Rachel, who's taking care of the Alpha's outfits for the big day?",she asked. Accalia sat up ready to hear about Ethan and maybe some information about his betrothed or lover.
"Oh. Gamma Dan. He's the best tailor for the suits they'll both wear. He's been sewing Gabriel's suits,since Gabriel was four", Rachel said.
"They'll?", Accalia asked, pretending to be puzzled.
Yeah.. Gabriel and Ethan,his best man and Beta", Helen answered. "We'll be her bridesmaids. Although my Alpha is already my plus one. Wonder who Ethan would come with?"Helen said, arranging the fabrics on the table.
"You know how Ethan is with sentimental issues like this. He'll just go quiet, even when a harem of ladies are begging to be his. He'll just concern himself with administration work and all'', Rachel said.
"Enough about Hot Ethan talk, have you ladies chosen any style from my catalog?", Helen interrupted to the dismay of Accalia.